USC Upstate turns tables on GWU, 9-2

Wednesday

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – In baseball, momentum often doesn’t last past the first pitch of the next game.

Gardner-Webb got a painful reminder of that Wednesday. Host USC Upstate plated three runs in each of the third, fifth and eighth innings to capture a 9-2 win over Gardner-Webb Wednesday night.

It came one day after GWU (21-20-1) had knocked off 15th-ranked South Carolina.

The Runnin’ Bulldogs took a 1-0 lead on a Benji Jackson RBI single with two outs in the top of the third, but the Spartans (24-19) responded its first three-spot in the bottom half of the inning and never trailed again.

Gardner-Webb starter Beau Hilton (2-1) took the mound loss, allowing three runs on two hits and five walks in 2.1 innings of work. Jeff Howell (1.2 IP), Conner Scarborough (1.0 IP) and Stephen Gilmore (1.0 IP) each had scoreless appearances out of the bullpen.

The Runnin’ Bulldogs collected nine hits in the game, with Scott Johnson (2-for-4), Benji Jackson (2-for-4, RBI) and Scott Coleman (2-for-4, SB) combining for six of those safeties. Henry Rundio, Brad Collins and Hodge (1-for-4, RBI) had the other hits for GWU.

Upstate starter Chris Cox picked up the win, allowing just two runs on six hits through 6.0 innings (six strikeouts, two walks). Three relievers combined to finish the game without allowing another run to cross.

Gardner-Webb will host UNC Asheville in a key, three-game Big South Conference series starting Friday at John Henry Moss Stadium/Bill Masters Field. First pitch Friday is set for 6 p.m., with the game set to air live on ESPN3 (WatchESPN.com) and WGWG-FM (88.3/wgwg.org).

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